- Safiu Kehinde
The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has adjourned the trial of the two Ansaru leaders, Mahmud Usman and Abubakar Abba, arraigned over alleged terrorism offences.
The matter, which was scheduled for commencement of trial on Wednesday before Justice Emeka Nwite, could not proceed due to an application by Bala Daum, counsel to the suspected terrorists.
Dakum had prayed for more time to enable him to be served with the charges and to study the proof of evidence shortly when the matter was called.
The lawyer told the court that the charge and proof of evidence were still with the Department of State Service (DSS) where the terror suspects were being detained on the orders of the court.
He prayed the court that the two defendants be moved to a correctional centre to enable easy access and ensure prompt and hitch-free trial.
However, counsel to the DSS, David Kaswe, opposed Dakum ‘s application.
Kaswe urged the court to begin the trial as scheduled since, according to him, the witnesses were in court.
He said that protocol in the DSS required the defendants’ lawyer to write to the agency seeking permission to see his clients and copy him.
He said Dakum had failed to do the needful.
Kaswe, therefore, urged the court to order the defendants’ lawyer to always respect the protocol of the DSS by writing formally for permission to visit the defendants and also copy him so that he would be of assistance.
Justice Nwite, in a brief ruling, said he was inclined to consider the submission of the defence lawyer in the interest of fair hearing.
The judge subsequently adjourned the matter until January 15, 2026.
He also ordered Dakum to always notify the DSS for permission to visit his clients and copy the prosecutor.
According to reports, the judge had, on September 11, convicted and sentenced Usman, a.k.a Abu Bara’a/Abbas Mukhtar, to 15 years imprisonment for illegal mining.
The development was after Usman pleaded guilty to count 10 of the 32-count terrorism charge preferred against him and his deputy commander, Abba, a.k.a Isah Adam/Mahmud Al-Nigeri.
Usman and Abba, in count 10, were alleged to have, sometimes between 2015 and 2025 committed the illegal mining offence.
They were accused to have mined precious minerals such as thunder and california stones without lawful authority.
The offence, according to the Federal Government, is contrary to and punishable under Section 8(b) of the Miscellaneous Offences Act, LFN 2004, and punishable under the same Section of the Act.
Although Usman pleaded guilty to count 10, Abba, who is a deputy commander of the terrorist group, did not when the whole counts were read to them.
The two top leaders of Ansaru, an Al-Qaeda affiliated network, were recently arraigned before Justice Nwite.
Usman and Abba were arraigned on 32-count charge bordering on terrorism and others.
While Usman is the 1st defendant, Abba, popularly called Mallam Mamuda, is the 2nd defendant in the charge marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/464/2025.
The charge is dated and filed on September 4 by Mr Abubakar, Director of Public Prosecutions on behalf of the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice.
In the charge, Usman who hails from Okene Local Government Area (LGA) of Kogi and Abba from Daura LGA of Katsina State were alleged to have aided and abetted the acts of terrorism sometimes between 2013 and 2015.
They were accused of conspiring amongst themselves and agreeing to be part of the formation and top commanders of the Jama’atu Ansarul Muslimeena Fii Bilaadis Sudan (a.k.a. JAMBS/Ansaru, a proscribed terrorist organisation in Nigeria.
In counts three and four, they were accused of receiving training in weapons handling and training on the fabrication of Improvised Explosives Devices (IEDs) from various terrorist camps.
In count five, they were accused of an act preparatory to acts of terrorism by receiving training on war tactics from Jama’atu Nusratil Islami Wal Muslimin, a.k.a. JNIM, a terrorist group in Mali.
in count seven, they were accused of contributing to the attack on Wawa Cantonment of the Nigerian Army in Kainji, New-Bussa, Borgu LGA of Niger sometimes in 2022 resulting in mass causalities, among the 32 counts.
Following their not guilty plea, the judge had ordered them to be remanded at the DSS facility in Abuja, pending the conclusion of the trial.